<p>I have two kids in college and the EFC for one is 25K and the other 29 K. How does that work? Does that mean our total EFC is 54K? If so we are in deep trouble!</p>
<p>The EFC is based on parent income/assets and student income/assets. When there is more than one in school the parent contribution to the EFC is divided in the formula by the number of school, the individual student part remains the same. So if the parent part of the EFC was 50,000 then with 2 students in college it woul be 50,000/2 = 25,000. if student A has no income over the income protection allowance (@ $3800ish) and no assets then there will be no student contribution to the EFC and his EFC will be 25000. If student B has income over the protected allowance then 50% of that and 20% of any assets go toward the student contribution. It appears in your case one student has income or assets sufficient to add $4000 to his/her EFC.</p>
<p>Student A’s school will use 25k to calculate his/her financial aid. Student B’s school will use 29k. Unless, of course, either is a CSS/profile school in which case the FAFSA EFC will be used for federal aid eligibility and the CSS for institutional aid.</p>
<p>Yes, you are in deep trouble. :eek: Sorry!</p>
<p>Here is the really weird thing. Last year’s EFC with only one child in school was 32K. We did have about 20K more in adjusted gross income but this year the EFC (total) went up by 22K. Now seriously does that make any sense? If you GROSS 20K more, that is before taxes, you would lose 5-6K of that just in taxes so how can you suddenly have 22K more to spend? Doesn’t sound quite right to me. In fact since S1 has been in school EFC has been 29-32K all 3 years. He has gotten FA to make up the dif between EFC and cost of attendance. Suddenly this year (with two in college) it jumps to 54K without anywhere near that much of an increase in income and obviously the actual cost of living has gone up every year.</p>
<p>That does seem weird, Jess. Can you pull last year’s SAR out and compare them - there must be something other than increased income driving the EFC. Are you sure FAFSA showed two in college?</p>